My home is circa 1784. Its situation is such that it fell in the line of battle during the conflict between the States. When my father died, I was too early at the cemetery for the appointment concerning the necessary arrangements. To pass the time I paid a visit to the antique shop close by. Displayed there was a book which possessed a title that gave me the idea that my home may be mentioned within. Upon opening it, the pages fell directly to a description and photograph of my old place. It was not intended for the purpose, but the volume became a much worn field guide as I sought to visit and photograph other ante-bellum homes in the vicinity. I pursued that objective with interest and vigor. This caused me to notice the old churches en route and I began to photograph them. Behind the churches were cemeteries. Cemeteries that I found to be serene and sublime, full of lore. In turn they led me here and I stayed.

My attempt to get Airey Neave declared famousI've revised my bio of Airey Neave on Findagrave.com, still hoping to satisfy the unwritten rules, and once again submitted an application for their "famous" designation. Most grateful if you're able to take a look and cast a vote! Maybe this time he'll make it.

Isaac Van Vort, RichmondYou created the memorial below and added the photo. I would like to know if there is Hebrew on the back of the monument. It would give his father's name. If you have time, I would appreciate your checking. Thanks,Roberta from Boston

John HunterGeorge, Thank you so much for taking this photo. I'm really glad you claimed it. Your description made me feel as if I were right there, hobbling along, finding it with you. I'll be in Virginia in April and possibly October. We need to go roam a,cemetery together. Good to see you out there. Thanks again my friend. More might be coming. Working on completing Virginia asap for the first book. Take care. Anne

Thomas TalcottKind of you — and checking facts is always of benefit! After all, when we started, I had no idea that it might not be right. I was ignorant of something, and now I think I know it, even if it's a negative…

As pretty positively as I can tell, Thomas Mann Randolph Talcott #16660239 was not a West Point graduate, and doesn't even seem ever to have attended the Academy; about this last, I'm a bit less certain.

Only three Talcotts are listed in the 1950 index: Andrew (Class of 1818), George H (Class of 1831), Lawrence T (Class of 1931). Similar results are found online at the official site of the West Point Association of Graduates, at https://www.westpointaog.org/memorials (entering "Talcott" in the "Last Name" field).

He might still have attended, just not graduated — which would have been likely since, born in 1838, he was about the age to graduate in the early years of the War between the States. Many cadets resigned to serve the Confederacy, and are therefore not among the graduates.

So I checked the OROC (Official Register of Officers and Cadets), a yearly printed report, contemporaneous, listing among others all the cadets attending the Military Academy in that year, even members of non-graduating classes, with annotations for those who left the Academy without graduating. I find no Talcott listed in the OROCs in any Class between 1853 (when TMT was 15) and 1861.

As an outlier, I also checked Heitman's Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army (1903): no Thomas Talcott is listed; not too surprising, mind you, since he didn't serve as a United States Army officer; but Part III, section 7, includes a list of officers who left the United States Army after November 1, 1860 and joined the Confederate service.

On another offchance, I looked at Freeman's biography of R. E. Lee, in which the Talcott son is mentioned at least twice (index http://bit.ly/FRERELindexSZ#Tal4 links to the passages in the book) — Freeman doesn't mention that he might have been a West Pointer either.

I'd be interested in the source of the West Point graduate statement; it might just be a commendatory fabrication, or then again there may well be something underlying it.